Terrific Social Skills

The rest of the weekend passed in the blink of an eye and when Runa walked in the next day, a piece of news that left her speechless greeted her.

It all started when one of the lecturers, Mrs. Fonard, asked Runa to come to her room.

"The college will send you and Arden Whitlock to a scientific papers competition in three months."

"What?"

Mrs. Fonard adjusted the thick-lensed glasses on her face, which made her eyes look like dragonfly eyes. "Were my words not clear enough?"

Runa was stunned for a split second, then she gasped and shook her head. "That is not what I mean. You said I was going to work with Arden Whitlock?"

Mrs. Fonard, who was sitting in a swivel chair behind her desk, slowly spun the chair left and right with her thin and tall body. Sometimes Mrs. Fonard reminded Runa of a giraffe. A giraffe with big eyes.

"Since moving here, Mr. Whitlock showed outstanding ability in the academic field. You must have noticed that too, right? I know your reputation and history of accomplishments at Sunbrillo. Isn't it the first time there's a student who can shift you from a top-tier position?"

"But isn't he a bit lacking in… manners? You might know he hangs out with the delinquents on campus. They often skipped classes and smoked, not to mention they love to create a ruckus."

Mrs. Fonard pulled her chair closer to the table, then supported her chin with the backs of her hands. "That's why I entrust this task to you, Ms. Crown. I believe you can make him agree to work with you. Aren't your social skills terrific?"

"But-"

Mrs. Fonard raised one hand, asking Runa to be quiet. Runa had not shut her mouth when Mrs. Fonard said, "I hope you and Mr. Whitlock can work together and share ideas to produce stunning scientific papers."

After that, Mrs. Fonard handed over two competition manuals and two journals. "Meet Mr. Whitlock and began compiling the scientific papers. I look forward to a progress report from you every week."

Runa accepted the books and stood motionless where she stood, staring at the blue and white cover of the book.

"Is there anything else you want to ask?" Mrs. Fonard looked at Runa from the top of her glasses. Runa shook her head and Mrs. Fonard glanced at the door, signaling for Runa to leave her room. When Runa was about to turn around, Mrs. Fonard asked, "What happened to your leg?"

Runa looked over her shoulder and replied, "I sprained my ankle."

Mrs. Fonard said a silent 'oh' and nothing else.

After Runa closed the door behind her, she took a deep breath and her eyes searched every face in the corridor, looking for the person she was most reluctant to meet. It seemed unlikely that Arden would be around here.

With a crutch stuck in her left armpit and a pile of books in her right hand, Runa stumbled towards Mandy, who was talking to some of their friends.

"Runa!" Mandy immediately ran to Runa and took all the books from her hand. "What the hell is this?"

"Something that makes my day a rainy day," grumbled Runa, glancing around, making sure no one heard her. She thanked Mandy, then grabbed her shoulder and leaned in so she could whisper. "Do you know where I can find a human named Arden Whitlock?"

Mandy jerked her head back, and her eyes widened. "Why are you looking for him? Do you have any business with him?"

Reluctantly, Runa nodded. "Unfortunately, yes."

"I could tell he is handsome and the aura he gave off was simply irresistible. But I'm not sure your father would be happy to hear his daughter hanging out with a boy who has pierced ears, rides motorbikes, and likes to smoke," joked Mandy. She actually responded to this news with more panic than Runa. "Looks like he has a tattoo too, though I've never seen one. But I'm pretty sure he has at least one tattoo on his body."

Runa took a deep breath and held it for a moment. She didn't need all that unimportant information, which made her even more reluctant to have anything to do with Arden. "Why do you think I'm looking for him?" asked Runa then. "I wouldn't have wanted to deal with him if I didn't have to." Then Runa told Mandy about the scientific papers competition, and the horrified expression on Mandy's face turned into a sly grin.

"That sounds really sexy," Mandy said as she waggle her eyebrows. "Working with a bad boy is a challenge… but I can imagine it will turn into something hot and romantic! Now, your role is the female lead who is trying to tame the beast."

Runa give her best 'it's so troublesome' expression and massaged her temples. Suddenly, she felt very dizzy. The ranking issue wasn't over yet, and now she had to deal with the boy who had indirectly caused her to sprain her ankle. "You read too many novels," muttered Runa.

"Yes, indeed. And I love it. There's nothing wrong with it." Mandy shrugged and gave an innocent look.

"So, do you know where I can find him?" asked Runa, returning their conversation to its original topic.

"He usually spends time with his clique on the rooftop," said Mandy, then she glanced at Runa's sprained ankle and turned to the crutch in her left hand. "Give me one minute," she said later. "I will call one of their members."

"You have their number?" Rune frowned.

Mandy took her phone out of her pocket and started scrolling through the screens. "Of course, Runa. Unlike you, I make friends with all walks of life," she said without looking at Runa.

Mandy made a phone call and from the conversation, it seemed that Arden was not on the rooftop.

"They're hanging out on the rooftop, but Arden isn't there," said Mandy later. She put the phone in her jeans pocket and looked at Runa, waiting for her to say something.

And suddenly Runa's mind drifted somewhere.

"You want me to look for him?" Mandy asked.

"No. Just please put these books in my locker. I'll look for him. I think I know where to find him."

Mandy gave a confused look, but she just nodded and didn't ask any further.

---

Runa grumbled in her heart when she had to pass through the gravel path leading to the back gate. She pulled a bunch of keys out of her knee-length skirt pocket and opened the gate that led to an abandoned house. With great difficulty, she went down a slope that felt many times steeper. By the time she reached the house, her breath hitched and her throat was as dry as a desert.

Runa pushed the door and stepped inside. Sure enough, Arden was there. He was asleep on the sofa, just like when they had first met in this place. This time, Runa wasn't surprised and wondered, although she was still curious, how Arden got in here.

Runa walked over to Arden, then plopped down on the empty sofa near his head. Runa took a deep breath, half moaning because she was tired. She leaned the crutch against the wall to her right, while Arden was on his left.

"I think you can heal yourself," came the mocking line from Arden. He was still in a sleeping position, his head close to Runa. One hand was placed on his forehead so that Runa could not see his face.

"Is that even possible?" Runa grumbled. She closed her eyes and caught her breath. Her hands and feet felt numb. Coming here has never felt this tiring.

"Maybe. Because there's nothing you can't do on your own."

That's supposed to be a compliment, but from the way Arden said those lines, Runa could tell he wasn't praising her.

"I wish I could," said Runa, choosing to ignore Arden's sarcasm.

"I've finished all your cigarettes, in case you were looking for them."

"Those are expensive."

"That's why I take them all."

"Sh—" Runa paused before uttering a perfect rant.

"What are you doing here?" asked Arden later, after neither of them spoke for a few minutes.

"That's my line," said Runa. "This is my place."

"No. This is our place," Arden corrected.

Runa wanted to refute Arden's words, but she didn't have the energy to argue. "I was looking for you."

"Why?"

"Mrs. Fonard told us to—"

"She already told me," Arden cut in, "and I turned it down."

What?! Why did Mrs. Fonard say nothing to Runa about Arden's refusal?

Runa recalled her conversation with Mrs. Fonard, which led her to conclude.

Is Mrs. Fonard hoping Runa can persuade Arden to take part in this competition? Was that what she meant by the hope that Runa could get Arden to cooperate?

Why Mrs. Fonard insists Arden come along? Aren't there many other students who would be happy to do it?

"Looks like you have to say it more clearly to her," said Runa. "Because Mrs. Fonard asked me to do this scientific papers competition with you."

Arden got up to sit down and dragged his body to Runa's side. He rested one arm on the armrest and leaned toward Runa. Runa shifted position and pulled away so her face wasn't too close to Arden's. Their eyes met, and the pair of amber eyes seemed to glow when the sun shone through the dull window panes.

"I'm not going to repeat what I said," Arden said. His voice was deep and low under his steady breathing. "You can tell Mrs. Fonard to ask the other student."

"She won't listen," Runa insisted. "We'd better go see Mrs. Fonard together—"

"No." Arden tilted his head and his facial expression turned more serious. After firmly refusing Runa's invitation, he glanced at the crutch leaning against the wall. "What were you doing that time in the tree?" he asked suddenly, while his eyes returned to Runa.

"None of your business." Runa, who didn't want to lose in this intimidating atmosphere, replied to Arden's words. "What you said to that girl was so mean."

"It's better to set clear boundaries than to misunderstand them."

Runa gritted her teeth. Arden kept getting closer and Runa kept shifting her sitting position and pulling herself until her arm hit the crutch. The crutch slid sideways and Runa was ready to hear the object hitting the floor when Arden swiftly reached past Runa and caught it.

Arden's sleeve opened and Runa saw a tattoo engraved on his upper arm. A long-handled scythe.

"Angel of death," whispered Runa, without realizing it.

Arden turned slowly towards her. For a moment, there was a look of surprise on his face before he asked, "What did you say?"